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Marble Lions 2026 + Barrel-aged Marble Lions 2026

Side Project Brewing
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🌍 United States · Imperial Stout · One of 85 Imperial Stouts in hopIQ

An imperial stout finished on peanut butter, bananas and vanilla beans — inspired by Elvis Presley's favourite sandwich. The name comes from the two marble lions Presley placed on the front steps of Graceland in 1957. At 12 percent, the first in a range where Side Project brings its layering of adjuncts to imperial stouts.

ABV
12%
Bitterness
Very bitter
Malt-forward bitterness
SRM
dark40
See all Imperial Stout alternatives →
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Style expression
textbookdistinctive
Taste structure· The backbone of the beer, regardless of style.
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
hopIQ take

Full-bodied and gently sweet.

A slow, coating pour that settles on the tongue and rewards the sip that follows.

Wider bands mean we're less certain about the exact position.
Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another Imperial Stout.
Malt character
nutty
chocolate
roasted
Fermentation & yeast
banana
Distinctive notes
vanilla
dark fruit
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Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Marble Lions 2026 + Barrel-aged Marble Lions 2026

Appearance

Deep mahogany to near-black in the glass, reflecting the high SRM of 40. The beer presents opaque clarity with a dense, tan head that builds generously and maintains moderate lacing down the sides of the glass. Carbonation appears restrained, appropriate for the imperial stout's weight and complexity.

deep mahoganyopaquedense tan headrestrained carbonation

Aroma

The nose leads with toasted and roasted grain, followed by prominent peanut butter and rich vanilla bean notes that dominate the profile. Dark fruit esters emerge beneath—plum and raisin—while a subtle banana note weaves through the mid-palate aromatics. The overall impression is dessert-like and decadent, with minimal hop character and a faint warm alcohol vapour at the edges.

roasted grainpeanut buttervanilla beandark fruitbanana

Taste

Entry is full-bodied and smooth, with layered nutty and vanilla flavours that coat the palate immediately. Mid-palate develops rich chocolate and roasted malt backbone, complemented by banana and subtle dark fruit notes; the sweetness is pronounced but not cloying. At 12% ABV, the alcohol is present but well-integrated, contributing to a warming boozy character without sharp heat.

full-bodiednuttyvanillachocolatesmooth warmth

Finish

The finish is long and lingering, dominated by peanut butter and vanilla that persist on the palate and in the aftertaste. Residual sweetness and a soft roasted dryness lend balance, with the boozy warmth fading gradually over several minutes.

long finishpeanut butter persistencesweet residue
88
hopIQ score
Aroma
87
Taste
90
Appearance
85
Finish
87
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Marble Lions 2026 + Barrel-aged Marble Lions 2026

Serve at 13–16°C
Refrigerate, then rest 2 min

Slightly warmer than you might expect. 10–13°C lets the roasted malt, chocolate and coffee notes open up fully.

Pint glass
Recommended for this style

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

Can be cellared 2–5 years. Develops dark fruit, leather and port-like complexity with age.

Food Pairing

What to eat with Marble Lions 2026 + Barrel-aged Marble Lions 2026

About Imperial Stout

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Imperial Stout?

Stouts are dark ales with roasted barley character, 4–8% ABV and IBU 25–45. Expect coffee, dark chocolate and toast flavors with a creamy body and dry finish.

Finding a similar Imperial Stout

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same nutty, vanilla, banana character as Marble Lions 2026 + Barrel-aged Marble Lions 2026 will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other Imperial Stouts in hopIQ

Explore all Imperial Stout beers in hopIQ →Browse United States beers →

WHERE TO BUY

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